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“Dieren van de Nacht” — Night Animals Song in Dutch for Kids

In “Dieren van de Nacht” (Night Animals), kids sing key Dutch words like de uil, de vleermuis, het vuurvliegje and de krekel, going back and forth between English and Dutch, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 27: Bedtime Lullabies, 4:48 long, made for ages 2–8.

  • 🇳🇱 Dutch
  • Level: A1
  • Unit 27 · Slaapliedjes
  • ⏱ 4:48
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“Dieren van de Nacht” lyrics with English translation

Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. Dutch is shown in teal.

Song lyrics with translation. Dutch lines are shown in teal.
SungMeaning
Who is awake?Wie is er nog wakker?
Wie is er nog wakker?Who is awake?
The owl is awakeDe uil is wakker
De uil is wakkerThe owl is awake
Who is awake?Wie is er nog wakker?
Wie is er nog wakker?Who is awake?
Hoo, hoo, very softlyOehoe, oehoe, heel zachtjes
Hoes, hoes, heel zachtjesHoo, hoo, very softly
At night, at night’s Nachts, ’s nachts
's Nachts, 's nachtsAt night, at night
The little owl rests nearbyDe kleine uil rust dichtbij
De kleine uil rust dichtbijThe little owl rests nearby
The owl, de uil
The owl, de uil
Sleep now, little oneSlaap nu, kleintje
Slaap nu, kleintjeSleep now, little one
At night, 's nachts
Very softly, heel zachtjes
Everyone is sleepingIedereen slaapt
Iedereen slaaptEveryone is sleeping
Everyone is sleepingIedereen slaapt
Iedereen slaaptEveryone is sleeping
Who is fluttering?Wie fladdert daar?
Wie vliegt daar zacht?Who is flying softly?
The bat is flutteringDe vleermuis fladdert
De vleermuis vliegt zachtThe bat flies softly
Who is glowing?Wie geeft daar licht?
Wie geeft daar licht?Who is glowing?
The firefly is glowingHet vuurvliegje geeft licht
Het vuurvliegje geeft lichtThe firefly is glowing
Who is chirping?Wie tsjirpt daar zacht?
Wie tsjirpt daar zacht?Who is chirping softly?
The cricket sings nearbyDe krekel zingt dichtbij
De krekel zingt dichtbijThe cricket sings nearby
Who is snuffling?Wie snuffelt daar?
Wie snuffelt daar?Who is snuffling there?
The hedgehog, de egel, curls up warm
De egel rolt zich warm opThe hedgehog curls up warm
Who is curling up?Wie krult zich op?
Wie krult zich op?Who is curling up?
The fox is sleepingDe vos slaapt al
De vos slaapt alThe fox is sleeping
The owl, de uil
The bat, de vleermuis
The firefly, het vuurvliegje
The cricket, de krekel
The hedgehog, de egel
The fox, de vos
At night, 's nachts
Very softly, heel zachtjes
Who is awake?Wie is er nog wakker?
Wie is er nog wakker?Who is awake?
No one now, niemand nu
Everyone is sleepingIedereen slaapt
Iedereen slaaptEveryone is sleeping
The owl, de uil
The bat, de vleermuis
The fox, de vos
Sleep, little one, slaap, kleintje
Very softly, heel zachtjes
Mmm, mmm, slaap nu zachtMmm, mmm, sleep now, dear
Mmm, mmm, sleep now, dearMmm, mmm, slaap nu zacht
Mmm, mmm, 's nachtsMmm, mmm, at night
Mmm, mmm, iedereen slaaptMmm, mmm, everyone is sleeping
Mmm, mmm, heel zachtjesMmm, mmm, very softly
Mmm, mmm, slaap maarMmm, mmm, go to sleep

Key Dutch words in this song

The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.

DutchEnglish
de uilthe owl
de vleermuisthe bat
het vuurvliegjethe firefly
de krekelthe cricket
de egelthe hedgehog
de vosthe fox
wie is er nog wakker?who is awake?
iedereen slaapteveryone is sleeping
's nachtsat night
heel zachtjesvery softly

How to use this song with your child

  1. 1

    Listen for “heel zachtjes”

    “heel zachtjes” (very softly) is sung on 5 lines of this song. Ask your child to clap or raise a hand every time they hear it; by the end they will be saying it with the song.

  2. 2

    Split the parts

    Once the song is familiar, you sing the English lines and your child sings the Dutch ones, then swap. It turns listening into speaking.

  3. 3

    Make it a routine

    At 4:48, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Rock a teddy to sleep in time with the music.

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